Franklin Street

Serving the students and the University community since 1893.

The sign for Cosmic Cantina hangs above Franklin St. on Thursday, July 11, 2019.

'We're a part of the campus:' UNC's long-term plan for Cosmic Cantina

Cosmic Cantina has been serving up low-cost, high-quality burritos for 20 years in Chapel Hill. Although a recent UNC plan proposes replacing it and other businesses with a welcoming gateway to campus, changes are years down the road.

Part of the UNC Master Plan proposes using an entire section of buildings surrounding Porthole Alley for a number of projects. This plan left students and store owners confused about the future of Cosmic Cantina, a beloved Mexican restaurant on Franklin Street.

Photographic coverage of the Civic Digital Fellowship event for client Coding it Forward in Washington, DC. Photo courtesy of Tai Huynh.

Column: Making downtown Chapel Hill better requires innovation and collaboration

Graphic of UNC's campus in the Master Plan, courtesy of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Inside UNC's long term plan to reinvent campus, the 'Master Plan'

Diagram of UNC in the Master Plan draft, ratified by the Board Of Trustees in May. Courtesy of the BOT

UNC isn't tearing down Cosmic Cantina or Carolina Coffee Shop, at least not yet

Franklin Street sits at the northern edge of campus and it is the most famous stretch of pavement in Chapel Hill. Many of the businesses on Franklin Street cater to students.

Students often rush Franklin Street after a win against Duke in basketball. Chapel Hill’s Homegrown Halloween event, which at its peak attracted nearly 32,000 college students from across the state, is held on Franklin Street.

General Script

The Daily Tar Heel tags stories to make it easier for you to find our more about topics you care about. Consider it a Wikipedia for all things UNC.

The Hemp Store sees summer success, continues efforts for community involvement

By Dylan Lamphier

“To know we can help people in any type of way is what we do this for," The Hemp Store in Chapel Hill has seen success in educating the community and bringing a fairly new product to Orange County.

The Chapel Hill fire department serves the Town of Chapel Hill and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Shanghai Dumpling closed until further notice following early-morning fire

By Marin Wolf

No one was injured in the fire. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Feeling overwhelmed by the mass of restaurants on Franklin? We picked some for you

By Sophia Wilhelm

Looking for some food? Can't decide from the growing list of restaurants on Franklin Street? Look no further than our guide with the restaurant for your mood or activity:

The South Rd bus stop across from the Carolina Student Union services multiltudes of students and Triangle residents everyday.

Forget your car, we've got you covered! Here's how to get around using public transit

By Sean Leider

Whether you're going local or across towns, here's the transportation guide for you, the savvy public transit user.

Chapel Hill native and fashion designer Alexander Julian says, “I’m not known for fashion anymore. I’m known for argyles". The Julian's storeowner redesigned the basketball team uniforms with and added the original argyle in 1991.

Meet the man behind the classic Carolina argyle

By Daniel Petrucci

Alexander Julian is more than just the owner of Julian's on Franklin Street. Read about his legacy in both Chapel Hill and in the world of fashion.

The Varsity Theatre is located on East Franklin Street and currently showing the movies, "Venom" and "A Star is Born" on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. The historic movie theater has been a landmark of Chapel Hill for decades and now there is possibility that it will operate as a public performing arts space.

The Varsity Theatre might be getting renovated soon ... or not

By Ryan Smoot

As a recommendation from the Varsity Theatre Task Force, Chapel Hill was advised not to purchase and renovate The Varsity after a meeting on Monday.

A parking spot at the Carrboro Police Department.

Chapel Hill Police Reports: April 11 - April 15

By Daniel Petrucci

Here's some entries from the Chapel Hill crime logs this past week.

NCPIRG calls on YoPo and Sutton's to stop using styrofoam

North Carolina Public Interest Research Group is a consumer interest group with an emphasis on environmental and public health issues. The request is part of NCPIRG’s lead campaign for spring 2019, where they’re focusing on campus sustainability and single-use plastics.

Tarish Pipkins, known as the master puppeteer Jeghetto, performs a puppet show at 109 E Franklin Street on Sunday, April 14, 2019. The pop up art gallery coincides with Arts Everywhere 2019.

Local artist Jeghetto presents pop-up puppets exhibit on Franklin Street

By Sofia Lesnewski

“...For the local government to give open spaces that are just sitting and let local artists utilize them, I think that’s a very big step in activism and people coming together."

Epilogue: Books Chocolate Brews, an independently owned bookstore and coffee shop with a Spanish-inspired twist, is coming to 109 E. Franklin St. this summer.

All Up In Your Business: Epilogue will be 'a place for locals, by locals'

By Diane Adame

UNC students and Chapel Hill community members alike are excited about a new bookstore/coffee shop coming to Franklin Street.

The storefronts of Sup Dogs and what was Tama Tea have been shattered. According to the Town, it seems no one entered the building, but instead through chairs to shatter the glass. Photos by Anna Pogarcic & Erin O’Rourke.

Storefronts shattered at Sup Dogs and former Tama Tea location

By Daniel Petrucci

Officers plan to check video footage from the businesses and others in the surrounding area to continue the investigation.

Meet the women leading businesses in Chapel Hill and Durham

By Sophia Wilhelm

To celebrate Women’s History Month, read the stories of four influential women entrepreneurs in the Chapel Hill and Durham communities. From furniture to boba tea, art to African cuisine, these women are running the local business scene. And with women entrepreneurs in the U.S. having increased by 114 percent in the last 20 years, totaling about 40 percent of businesses overall, it's no big surprise.